Weather todayOrange Armenia supports annual Phonethon in Europe
As every year since 2000, this year Orange supported the yearly PanEuropean Phonethon, organized by the “Hayastan” All Armenian Fund in France, being the official partner and sponsor of “Phonethon 2010”.
As in previous years, France Telecom Orange donated logistical resources to the latest Phonethon, including the use of its offices and onsite telecommunications equipment in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, and Montpellier. In addition, the company provided the Phonethon free telephone connections for the duration of the event.
For four 12-hour days, some 650 volunteers called Armenian households and businesses throughout Europe, urging them to help our compatriots in the far-flung rural communities of Armenia and Artsakh. By the conclusion of the Phonethon, over 11,200 supporters made pledges, surpassing last year’s results by almost ten percent.
Among the celebrities and community leaders making appeals for donations were French film star Gérard Depardieu and French-Armenian musician André Manoukian, who was appointed godfather of Phonethon 2010. With the support of Orange, 55,000 voice messages have been sent out with André Manoukian’s message.
The annual event, which was realized with the participation of the fund’s French, German, Swiss, Dutch, and Greek affiliates, resulted in almost 1.3 million euros in pledges. Proceeds from the Phoneathon will be used to build or restore water pipelines and networks in Artsakh’s Togh, Hartashen, Ukhtadzor, Aknaghbyur, and Sargsashen villages. The raised funds will also benefit various development projects in Armenia’s Tavush Region.
The Phoneathon’s closing ceremony was attended, among others, by Vigen Chitechyan, Armenia’s Ambassador to France, and Mireille Le Van, chairperson of the Orange Foundation. After expressing his heartfelt gratitude to the Phonethon’s partners and volunteers, Bedros Terzian, chairman of the fund’s French affiliate, announced the breakdown of pledges made during the fundraiser, as follows: 1.1 million euros from France, 70,000 from Germany, 18,000 from Switzerland, 46,000 from Greece, and 21,000 from the Netherlands.
Orange Armenia, a 100% subsidiary of France Telecom, launched its mobile voice and internet services on November 5, 2009 on the whole territory of the Republic of Armenia.
During 2009, 140 million dollars have been invested in Armenia, some 50 million dollars will be invested till the end of 2010, and now the company provides a full range of voice and data services in around 600 cities and villages of Armenia. Orange has the widest 3G+ network in Armenia which covers more than 93% of the population.
"Hayastan" All Armenian Fund is a nonforprofit organization founded in 1992 with the objective to boost humanitarian aid and the development of infrastructures in the RA and Nagorno Karabakh, The Fund has 20 affiliates in the world.
Studio One